-Best introduced as the land offering Kaleidoscopic views of the heaven!!

It was like looking for a needle in the stack of hay when we first googled for Periyar in Kerala. I still remember how inquisitive we were to see the real Periyar after investigating so much through blogs, articles, feature stories and travel write-ups.

It is located 270km away from its capital city. It is one of the 27 Project Tiger Reserves in India and is situated in Idukki district, within the bounds of the Western Ghats. It is also known as Thekkady and is famous for its distinctive wildlife. Periyar is spread over an area of 777 sq km, of which 350 sq km is separated for Periyar National Park & Tiger Reserve. The place is very rich in terms of both flora and fauna. The best place to hang out here is the Periyar Lake.

This lake was created by the Britishers in 1895. It is formed by the Periyar River, which is the longest river in Kerala. Periyar River originates at the Shivgiri Peak of Sundaramala in Tamil Nadu. Also known as the lifeline of Kerala, Periyar River contributes to the supply of domestic water, irrigation and power generation as well. The Idukki dam is built across this river. It is an ideal place to see migratory birds and herds of elephants. We also took a boat ride to visit elephants playing near the river. Must say, the grasslands across the river has an exotic collection of unique plant species.

Among the several tourist places in Periyar, the Periyar National Park definitely demands a visit. The place is a paradise for the wildlife enthusiasts. Apart from tigers and elephants, you can also find the Lion Tailed Macaque, Malabar Squirrel and Sloth Bear here. The sanctuary is the favourite haunt of mammals like Gaur, Sambar deer, Mouse Deer, Dholes (Indian Wild Dogs), Mongoose and Nilgiri Langur. Various colourful migratory birds also love to stop by it to enjoy its scenic splendour.

Tourist Places in Periyar

Though tagged as a tiger reserve, Periyar is also lauded for its wild elephants. There are about 800 elephants in here. We had a great time playing with the elephants. After enough of exploration, we decided to visit some spice gardens of Periyar.

We went to Abraham’s Spice Garden which is 56 years old and charges Rs. 100 for a tour of its one hectare garden. Our guide explained us the medicinal value of each spice and also how they are used in different cuisines. He also told us about some century old researches and how Periyar is one of the leading spice hubs in India. It was interesting to know that how powerful can these small little herbs are. We also visited some lush green tea-estates of Periyar and also sipped a local tea. Anyway it was time to do some shopping so we decided to buy the spices and herbs from here. My friend also bought a beautiful handicraft from a nearby village of Periyar. With the tasting of the local cuisine, our trip came to an end. Three days had passed so quickly. We packed our bags and headed for the airport. But Periyar will always be one of the best visits of ours.

My insight love for exotic wild creatures and birds was the cause that drove me to the divine dense greens of Periyar. Such places have always fascinated me somewhere in my dreams. â€śIndian Wildlifeâ€ť by Rajesh Bedi and Ramesh Bedi had created a great impact on me. So the story continues with my arrival in Idukki district in Kerala that is bordered by the picturesque Western Ghats.

The moment I stepped in Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the 27 Project Tiger Reserves in India, the first thing I came across was the rich vegetation that was incomparable. While going through the Periyar Travel Guide, I came to know that this paradise is located about 270 km from the capital, Thiruvananthapuram, 100 km from Alleppey and 120 km from Cochin. Stretching over 777 sq km, the dense greens of Periyar are home to about 60 different species of mammals and 320 different categories of birds.

I spend around four exciting hours there and enjoyed clicking some of the rarest animals like Lion Tailed Macaque, Malabar Squirrel and Sloth Bear. Next I headed for the lifeline of Kerala â€“ the gigantic Periyar River (the longest in Kerala with 244 km length). Luckily I got an opportunity to click Elephants, Sambars, Dholes (Indian Wild Dogs) and Nilgiri Langurs alongside the river.

Finally, when my jungle safari was over after a half day trip, I visited the beautiful Cardamom Hills. This was the time when I enjoyed the best of nature walk of my entire life and realized that Periyar is not restricted to safaris only. Walking through the aromatic cardamom, pepper and coffee plantations was beyond words!

On my way back to the hotel, I spent half an hour in the market street but unluckily it does not offer much except its exotic spices. Even then, I bought some fine quality pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, mace and anise â€“ as my mom loves to try new dishes with spices of different flavours â€“ and who else than me bear the brunt of those experiments!